We are excited to announce that Youth Creating Change is currently accepting applications for our 2025-2026 Youth Council. The Youth Creating Change Youth Council will support the Youth Creating Change team by providing feedback on the program and serving as ambassadors for the program. Learn more about last year’s Youth Council here.
Each term lasts for one school year, from September 2025 to June 2026. To apply, submit an application below by September 15th. Youth council members will be announced in late September.
Who can apply?
- Young people in grades 8-12, or in college (up to age 25)
- Must have participated in the Directing Change Film Contest or Hope & Justice Art and Film Contest at least once in the last 3 years
- Live in California
What are the responsibilities of a youth council member?
As a member of our youth council, you will have an opportunity to provide feedback about the program, help out with social media and other content, and act as an ambassador for the program.
Specifically, you will be asked to:
- Attend and participate in 3 virtual meetings this school year, where you will have opportunities to build leadership skills in the following areas:
- Media and Messaging (learn about safe messaging and review recent films and television shows for our annual media awards and write up at least one review of how a film or show did in covering a mental health or suicide prevention storyline)
- Marketing and Social Media (review and advise on social media strategies, create social media content, advise on promotional materials and ideas to engage more young people with the program)
- Mental Health Advocacy and Outreach (provide perspective and input on how to improve mental health services for young people and how to present to others about these topics)
- Evaluation and Research (provide perspective on our current research studies, including design and data collection as well as interpretation of findings)
- Judge one category in the annual film contest (March 2025) or one monthly Hope & Justice contest (various dates available).
- Provide feedback via email on specific program elements (as needed).
FAQ:
How many hours will I have to commit to the youth council?
We anticipate that the commitment is about 10 hours over the course of 9 months.
What are the benefits of serving on the Youth Creating Change Youth Council?
By serving on our youth council, you have an opportunity to develop leadership skills and ensure that the youth voice is at the forefront of the program. It will look great on your resume and college applications. But maybe most importantly, it provides you with an opportunity to make a difference by engaging more young people in conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.
- Suicide Prevention 101 Training
- Community service hours, if requested and approved by your school
- Opportunities for career development and mentorship
- Letter of recommendation (by request)
Can I still submit to the annual film contest or monthly contests?
Yes, youth council members are not excluded from submitting to the program.
How can I apply?
To apply, submit an application by September 16th below. Youth council members will be announced in late September 2025.
For questions, please contact shailen@youthcreatingchange.org
Thank you!